CONTRACT LET FOR NEW 2ZA

Chronicle (Levin), 3 September 1947, Page 3

CONTRACT LET FOR NEW 2ZA

Pr.ess. Assotfatiov,)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Aug. 2. An increase in the power of Palmerston North. 's broadcasting station to two kilowatts is foreshadowed in the' annual report of the National Broadcasting Service presented in Parliament this afternoon. A contract for the replacement of the present .equipment has been let, the report states, and the main, stations of the commercial network will be increased to ten kilowatts.' Palmerston North. liste.ners will also be able to tune in the new two kilowatt station to be erected in Wanganui. When all the projeeted improvements in the existing service have been coinpleted, even crystal set users should be able to enjoy good reception. The present auxiliary stations will be powered with ten-kilowatt transmitters and Wellington 's 2YC be raised to 60 kilowatts. The report says that district stations at present represented by 1YA, 2YC, 3YA, 4YA, 2YH, oZR and 4YZ, will be regarded as serving the /iq.terests of the larger districts oi' the pominion, supplying their best artists "to the national station and broadcasting the best of local artists and sometimes Abroadcasting the national station an*sometimes being rebroadcast by the national station. The local stations will serve the immediate locality, search out and encourage local talent, and act as feedcs of suitable talent to the district stations. The possibility that some of these local stations will radiate commercial programmes is indicatcd in the report, which says: "The extent to which these ■ stations will broadcast commercial programmes, if at all, will depend on local conditions. ' ' Negotiations have commenced, the report reveals, for the purchase of studio sites at the various centres, the building programme of the N.B.S. providing for the erectio'n of studios planned acoustically for broadcasting in all towns wliore the stations will operate.